The Chic Set's Favorite Dentist Shares The Wellness Secrets For A Perfect Smile

Between their yoga and pilates sessions, lymphatic drainage massages, and acupuncture treatments, the Gwyneth-esque subset of New York high society knows a thing or two about haute holistic healthcare. And when it comes to their teeth? They turn to Dr. Gerry Curatola.

A leader in innovative biologic dentistry, Dr. Curatola is the founder of Rejuvenation Dentistry and Rejuvenation Health, a practice that takes a personalized approach to oral care by combining research-backed science with the ancient, natural methods of ayurvedic medicine.

With two swanky offices on Park Avenue and in East Hampton, it's safe to say Dr. Curatola boasts some of the city's chicest clientele, who swear by his hybrid approach. As for what, exactly, that is, allow him to explain:

"Ayurveda shares the same values as Biologic dentistry. Both are grounded in the concept of universal interconnectedness and focus on the cause of an imbalance. In Ayurveda, one cannot have a clean body without a clean mouth. Each tooth has a meridian to an organ in the body. If an organ has an imbalance, the associated tooth will reflect this and conversely an imbalance in a tooth can block the meridian flow to the associated organ. After identifying an imbalance in the mouth, we use Ayurvedic methods such as diet and herbal medicine to help rebalance the body, mind and spirit."

Clearly, this stuff goes a little bit deeper than just remembering to floss.

Curious about how to achieve that perfect, rich-person smile? Well, in addition to booking an appointment at one of the Rejuvenation locations, you can read some of Dr. Curatola's expert oral wellness tips below! 

1. Balance the microbiome: It’s important to rebalance the natural ecology of the mouth. We know an acidic environment in the mouth is conducive to causing an imbalance in this natural colony of organisms called the oral microbiome. It shifts the balance to more acid-loving bacteria like that; therefore, the imbalance can affect the health of your teeth. To help nurture and find balance in the oral microbiome, try eating a robust diet rich in pre and probiotics and practicing good oral hygiene with Revitin toothpaste.

2. At-home best practices: You can easily help to remove plaque with a sonic toothbrush and stimulate gum circulation with an electric water flosser in between dental visits.

3. Eat an antioxidant-rich diet: Depending on whether we're under stress or other environmental factors, we oxidize a lot, so it is important to consume a wide variety of antioxidant-rich foods. Some of the best vitamins for gum and oral health are vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, and vitamin D3.

4. Practice mindfulness: It is so important to be mindful of how we deal with stress because what happens when you're under stress, saliva dries up, it also shifts the balance of the oral microbiome. You can practice mindfulness in a variety of different ways, from yoga and meditation to daily walks and finding remedies that supplement your everyday, like the Optimal AyurvedaTM Mind Body Calm. We want to move the body into a more rested and regenerative state rather than a nervous system that is in fight or flight.

5. Hydrate: For a super simple option that is easy to integrate into daily routines, make sure to maintain hydration to avoid mask mouth!

[Photos via Unsplash/courtesy Rejuvenation Dentistry]